Rosa plant named ‘SFROSA159’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of shrub rose, ‘SFROSA159’, that is characterized by its upright, compact plant habit, its single flowers with five large, flat petals and borne in clusters of five to eight, its continuous flowering throughout the season, its flowers that are saturated hot pink in color and nearly non-fading, its glossy dark green foliage, its cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 6, and its tolerance to powdery mildew and rust in California trials and tolerance to black spot in trials in the Midwest.

Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘SFROSA159’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rosa hybrida. The new cultivar will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘SFROSA159’. ‘SFROSA159’ is a new cultivar of shrub rose grown for use as a landscape shrub.

The new cultivar of shrub rose is a selection from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. with an objective to create new shrub rose cultivars with disease resistance, ever blooming habits, and unique brightly colored flowers that can be readily propagated on their own roots.

The new variety of shrub rose, ‘SFROSA159’, was selected by the Inventor from amongst seedlings derived from a cross made in July of 2009 between plants of the cultivar, ‘Meizmea’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,175) as both the female and male parent. ‘SFROSA159’ was selected as a single unique plant in May of 2010.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings in Arroyo Grande, Calif. in August of 2010 by the Inventor. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘SFROSA159’ as a new and unique cultivar of shrub rose.

-   -   1. ‘SFROSA159’ exhibits an upright, compact plant habit.     -   2. ‘SFROSA159’ exhibits large single flowers with five flat         petals and borne in clusters of five to eight.     -   3. ‘SFROSA159’ exhibits continuous flowering throughout the         season.     -   4. ‘SFROSA159’ exhibits flowers that are a saturated hot pink         color and nearly non-fading.     -   5. ‘SFROSA159’ exhibits glossy dark green foliage.     -   6. ‘SFROSA159’ exhibits cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone         6.     -   7. ‘SFROSA159’ exhibits tolerance to powdery mildew and rust in         California trials and tolerance to black spot in trials in the         Midwest.

‘SFROSA159’ can be distinguished from plants of its parent, shrub rose, ‘Meizmea’. ‘Meizmea’ is similar to ‘SFROSA159’ in having single flowers with five petals and in having disease resistance to black spot. ‘Meizmea’ differs from ‘SFROSA159’ in having flowers that are bicolored red and white, in having flowers that are smaller in diameter with smaller curled petals, in having flower clusters with more flowers, in having a more branched plant habit, in having leaflets that are smaller in size and light green in color, and in having flower flushes throughout the season rather than continuous blooming. ‘SFROSA159’ can be most closely compared to the shrub rose cultivar ‘WEKphorn’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,856). ‘WEKphorn’ is similar to ‘SFROSA159’ in having bright hot pink flowers. ‘WEKphorn’ differs from ‘SFROSA159’ in having flowers that are smaller in diameter, four to eight petals, fade to a light pink color, and in having a more branched plant habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new shrub rose. The photographs were taken of 2 year-old plants as grown outdoors in a one-gallon container in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant habit of ‘SFROSA159’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘SFROSA159’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a leaf of ‘SFROS159’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new shrub rose.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of nine month-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in 2-qt containers in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous bloom in California and from June             to first frost in Midwestern, northeastern, and southeastern             regions of the United States.         -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Upright and compact.         -   Height and spread.—An average of 91 cm in height and width             attained in one season.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 6.         -   Diseases and pests.—Has shown tolerance to powdery mildew             (Podosphaera pannosa) and rust (Phragmidium mucronatum) in             California trials and tolerance to black spot (Diplocarpon             rosae) in trials in the Midwest.         -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.         -   Time required for root development.—An average of three             weeks for root initiation with a rooted young plant produced             in an average of seven weeks.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Branch description:     -   -   Stem color.—Young; a blend of 143A to 143B and 144A,             suffused with 183C maturing; a blend of 143A to 143B and             144A, lightly suffused with 183C.         -   Stem surface.—Young; glabrous, mature; slightly glaucous.         -   Branching.—1 to 3 lateral branches per stem, 1 main stem per             1-quart container.         -   Stem size.—Average of 4.5 mm in width, up to 30 cm in             length.         -   Thorns.—Triangular shape, aspect slightly downward, base             oval, average of 8 in number per 10 cm length stem, average             of 5.5 mm in length with a base 4 mm in length and 1.5 mm in             width, a blend of 161A and 183B in color. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaves.—Compound, division is odd-pinnate, arrangement is             alternate, average of 10.5 cm in length and 7 cm in width,             internode length is an average of 2.4 cm.         -   Leaflets.—5 to 7, average of 4 cm in length and 3 cm in             width, oval to ovate in shape, cuneate base, acute to             rounded, serrate margins, color; emerging leaves upper             surface a blend of 143A to 144C and 183B, emerging leaves             lower surface a blend of 143C and 183B, young leaves upper             surface 137B, young leaves lower surface 144A to 144B,             mature leaves upper surface; N137A to N137B, mature leaves             lower surface; 138A, pinnately veined (not conspicuous),             emerging leaves upper and lower surface; glabrous and very             glossy, young and mature leaves upper surface; glabrous and             glossy, lower surface glabrous and dull.         -   Rachis.—Average of 4 cm in length and 1.2 mm in diameter,             color; upper surface 143A to 143B suffused with 183B, lower             surface 143B, rounded in shape with a center groove on upper             surface, smooth upper and lower surface with a few sparse             long hairs on upper surface.         -   Stipules.—Aspect outward, adnate to petiole, free apex acute             in shape, average of 2 cm in length and 4 mm in width, color             of upper and lower surface; 144A to 144B suffused with 183B,             glabrous on upper surface and lower surface.         -   Petioles and petiolules.—Petioles; an average of 1 cm in             length and 2 mm in diameter, petiolules; an average of 1.5             mm in length and 0.7 mm in diameter, petioles and             petiolules; color of mature leaves upper surface 183B             lightly tinged with 144A to 144B, color of mature leaves             lower surface 144A to 144B, upper surface slightly pubescent             and lower surface glabrous. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Single flowers borne in clusters of 5 to             8.         -   Flower number.—Continuous bloom throughout the growing             season, up to eight on a stem at one time.         -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 0.5 cm in height and 7.5 cm             in width dependent on air temperature.         -   Flower fragrance.—Faint.         -   Flower longevity.—5 to 8 days, depending on temperature and             sunlight exposure.         -   Flower type.—Single, flat form, round in shape.         -   Flower size.—Average of 7 cm in diameter and 2.5 cm in depth             (to base of reflexed sepals).         -   Peduncles.—Round in shape, average of 4 cm in length and 2.5             mm in diameter, glabrous and slightly scaberulose surface             with sparse glands, 144A in color.         -   Bracts.—0 to 1, at base of peduncle, variable but typically             urn-shaped base portion with elliptical leaf extension,             cuneate base, an average of 4 cm in length and 1 cm in             width, color matches leaf coloration on upper and lower             surface, glabrous on both surfaces, margins serrate on             elliptical portion and entire and glandular on basal             portion.         -   Flower buds.—Conical in shape, an average of 2.5 cm in             length and 1.5 cm in width prior to opening, color is 60A             with very base suffused with 60D, sepals are almost             horizontal and the same color as described in sepal             description.         -   Sepals.—5, triangular in shape, average of 2.5 cm in length             and 5 mm in width, color; 138B on upper surface and a blend             of 138A and 138B on lower surface, acuminate apex with a             small point leaf at apex, truncate base, reflexed on open             flowers, pubescent on upper surface, slightly pubescent on             lower surface, margins are pubescent with 0 to 4 lanceolate             appendages; lanceolate in shape, 7 mm in length and 1 mm in             width, color; N137 on both surfaces,.         -   Petals.—Average of 5 per flower, drop readily and cleanly,             obcordate to rounded in shape, upper and lower surface             glabrous, margins primarily with occasional crenations and             slightly undulating, base broadly cuneate, apex is rounded,             average of 3 cm in length and width, color; opening and             fully open flowers upper surface N57A, base N57C, lower             surface N57B, base N57C, fading flowers upper and lower             surface; N57B, bottom of base 5B (barely fading), basal spot             is absent.         -   Hypanthium.—Average of 7 mm in length and 5 mm in diameter,             shiny surface, 144A in color.         -   Pistils.—Average of 16, stigma is an average of 1.5 mm in             diameter and 161C in color, style is an average of 5 mm in             length and 185A in color (hidden in hypanthium), ovaries are             oblong in shape, 3.5 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width and             145D in color, pubescent surface.         -   Stamens.—Average of 80, filaments are an average of 1 cm in             length and a blend of 17B and N163A in color, anthers are an             average of 2 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width and 22A in             color, pollen is moderate in quantity and 20A in color.         -   Hips.—Globose to slightly oblong in shape, an average of 2             cm in width and height, color primarily a blend of 138A and             144A with tints of 31A, surface is dull. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rosa plant named ‘SFROSA159’ as herein illustrated and described. 